(L-R): Garth Brooks, Jolene Mercer
Texas music publicist
Jolene Mercer died Saturday, May 28, following a long illness.
She was noted for working with such artists as
Chris LeDoux,
Ricky Lynn Gregg,
Janie Fricke,
Asleep at the Wheel,
Charley Pride,
Neal McCoy,
Josh Logan and
Billy “Crash” Craddock. At various times during her career, she was also an event planner, booking agent and manager.
In 1982-84, Jolene Mercer was the publicist for the Dallas-based Permian Records. She coordinated tours, promoted records and handled advertising for the label’s
Lynn Anderson, among others.
After a year working for
The Oak Ridge Boys, she launched a nightclub booking business. She booked
Mark Nessler,
Ricky Lynn Gregg and a number of regional artists into the major show rooms and clubs of East Texas.
In 1987-89 she was the entertainment buyer and publicist for The Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. She also booked conventions and meetings for the Sheraton/Mockingbird West Hotel.
She formed Mercer & Associates as her own public relations firm in 1988. In addition to print publications, she placed clients with radio and television programs in the Lone Star State. She organized the press conference for
Garth Brooks’ “Beyond the Season – Feed the Children” initiative and handled press for the superstar’s video of “The Thunder Rolls.”
In 1992-94 she was the co-owner and co-producer of the Country Music Fan Jam in Dallas. This involved contacting and coordinating transportation and scheduling of 86 artists, plus networking the 62 Fan Jam radio stations.
Other events she organized included the Dallas Street Festival, the Caddo Indian Texas Festival, the Dallas Taste of West End and fund raising for the North Texas Food Bank. At various times, she did PR for the Chinese Acrobats, the Dallas/Ft. Worth Spurs (now the Texas Rangers), wrestlers, rodeo cowboys and football players.
Jolene Mercer was also the Texas location scout for the six-hour 1996 TBS documentary,
America’s Music: The Roots of Country, guiding its crew to numerous sites and artists in the Dallas and Ft. Worth areas.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at press time.
Donna Hughes Joins Capitol/EMI Records Nashville
/by Sherod Robertson“Bringing Donna on board is a huge score for the Capitol/EMI family,” says Hodges. “I have admired her work in the past and am eager for her to get started in this position that has no boundaries and limitless potential. Her enthusiasm for the music and artists is tremendously infectious!”
“It’s hard to find words to describe how excited I am for this new opportunity…and for anyone who knows me, that says a lot!” says Hughes. “I’ve been in this wonderful business for 23 years, and I’m still a fan of the music and the artists that make the music – especially people like Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Alan Jackson. I have so much respect for Mike Dungan, Steve Hodges, and the entire Capitol/EMI team – I’m thrilled to be joining them.”
Prior to joining Capitol/EMI Records Nashville, Hughes served as Executive Producer of the nationally syndicated radio program GAC Nights: Live From Nashville; Senior Producer for Premiere Radio Networks and talent booker for the Jeff Foxworthy Countdown. She also worked on the Rick and Rice show on Nashville’s Rockin’ Country 102.9, Crook and Chase, and Music City Tonight. In 2006, Hughes received the prestigious CMA Media Achievement Award. She is the first and only syndicated radio person to earn this award.
Starting June 15, she can be reached at donna.hughes@emicap.com or 615-269-2046.
Band Perry's Double Platinum Cert, "Save The Music" For VH1
/by Freeman“It’s been an amazing year! So many have embraced the message of ‘If I Die Young’ and we are humbled that it has impacted so many people. This is truly an honor,” said The Band Perry.
Tomorrow (6/2), The Band Perry will perform as part of VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Songwriters Music Series, Presented by Starburst. The series launched in New York with Glee star Matthew Morrison, continues with TBP in Nashville, and will hop to Los Angeles with a performer yet to be announced.
The excitement for The Band Perry doesn’t end there. They’re spending a hefty portion of summer on the road, headlining some of their own dates as well as opening Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic Tour (tour schedule here). They are also set to attend the CMT Music Awards June 8, where they are nominated for Video of the Year, Group of the Year, and USAWeekend Breakthrough Video of the Year.
Sales Wrap Gaga Style
/by adminThere’s also news on the country chart, but before we shift gears let’s note a few things. First an amazing 60% of the Gaga album sales were in digital form, about 660k units. Of those, unconfirmed reports estimate about 450k were sold at Amazon for 99¢, without which the album would never have broken the one million barrier. The bargain sale price meant that Amazon took a loss on the sales—not the record label—but one can certainly debate what this gambit will do to the price/value of music in the consumer’s mind, going forward??
A Paisley Design
Debuts from Warner’s Frankie Ballard (No. 33; 2,700) and Show Dog’s Carter’s Chord (No. 48; 1,700) also entered the chart. (Even with Top 75 country sales up 71% this week vs. last week (475k total) it only took 716 units to earn a spot on the list.)
The Big Picture—Albums
All genre album sales YTD are now up .4%. Not a huge uptick, but how long has it been since we were able to report any uptick in this category? Country album sales YTD remain in negative territory, -5.3%, but they have been improving of late.
The Big Picture—Tracks
Track sales are showing 10% YTD gains as we complete the first five months of 2011 with sales of about 536 million. Country track sales account for about 57 million or 10.6% of that track sales total.
Coming Soon
Upcoming country album projects can be found here. Potential future standouts with respect to sales include Ronnie Dunn (June 7), Blake Shelton (July 12) and Chris Young (July 12).
A Penny For Your Thoughts?
What about pricing albums for 99¢? What does that mean for this industry going forward? Comment below.
Lisa Matassa – Me Time
/by ProgrammerPlaylistMatassa’s life is a comeback story, a fairytale that has yet to have its ending written. From a little girl with a big voice to an emerging signed dance pop sensation by the age of nineteen, Lisa eventually put her music career on hold to become a wife and mother on Long Island. That fire inside her to perform and record never died, and now Lisa is ready to conquer the music scene once again with her own unique style that she lovingly calls Long Island Country. “I bring a unique perspective to my music now,” asserts Lisa. “Not many mothers with teenagers embark on a recording career later in life.”
With two-time Grammy nominated Executive Producer and writer, Bobby Guy Graziose at the helm and collaboration by producer Joey Sykes (Meredith Brooks, Third Eye Blind, Don Henley), Lisa released her EP Me Time. “The songs that we recorded and the songwriters I collaborated with, it gives me chills!” exclaims Lisa. The album title Me Time reflects the notion of a woman owning her power and making her own happiness and fulfillment a priority, something that every woman, wife or mother can relate to.
Lisa is embarking on this chapter of her music career on her own terms, explaining, “I feel like I have unfinished business to do. I want to bring this dream of music to the forefront because I know my time is coming. There is such a positive energy around this project and so many people who want to get behind it.”
Lisa Matassa – Me Time
Jolene Mercer Passes
/by Robert K Oermann(L-R): Garth Brooks, Jolene Mercer
Texas music publicist Jolene Mercer died Saturday, May 28, following a long illness.
She was noted for working with such artists as Chris LeDoux, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Janie Fricke, Asleep at the Wheel, Charley Pride, Neal McCoy, Josh Logan and Billy “Crash” Craddock. At various times during her career, she was also an event planner, booking agent and manager.
In 1982-84, Jolene Mercer was the publicist for the Dallas-based Permian Records. She coordinated tours, promoted records and handled advertising for the label’s Lynn Anderson, among others.
After a year working for The Oak Ridge Boys, she launched a nightclub booking business. She booked Mark Nessler, Ricky Lynn Gregg and a number of regional artists into the major show rooms and clubs of East Texas.
In 1987-89 she was the entertainment buyer and publicist for The Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. She also booked conventions and meetings for the Sheraton/Mockingbird West Hotel.
She formed Mercer & Associates as her own public relations firm in 1988. In addition to print publications, she placed clients with radio and television programs in the Lone Star State. She organized the press conference for Garth Brooks’ “Beyond the Season – Feed the Children” initiative and handled press for the superstar’s video of “The Thunder Rolls.”
In 1992-94 she was the co-owner and co-producer of the Country Music Fan Jam in Dallas. This involved contacting and coordinating transportation and scheduling of 86 artists, plus networking the 62 Fan Jam radio stations.
Other events she organized included the Dallas Street Festival, the Caddo Indian Texas Festival, the Dallas Taste of West End and fund raising for the North Texas Food Bank. At various times, she did PR for the Chinese Acrobats, the Dallas/Ft. Worth Spurs (now the Texas Rangers), wrestlers, rodeo cowboys and football players.
Jolene Mercer was also the Texas location scout for the six-hour 1996 TBS documentary, America’s Music: The Roots of Country, guiding its crew to numerous sites and artists in the Dallas and Ft. Worth areas.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at press time.
United Way Song Contest
/by adminUp to ten finalists will perform their songs live at The Listening Room on June 21st for a panel of judges including: hit songwriter Cary Barlowe (Lady Antebellum, tobyMac, Taylor Swift), Beth Brightwell (95.5 WSM), Marty Slayton Jordan (George Strait Backup Vocalist, United Way Advocate), Dan Keen (Belmont University Instructor of Music Business, Former VP at ASCAP), and Doak Turner (owner, The Nashville Muse, Music Starts Here).
The winner’s song will be used in an upcoming UNITED WAY DAY OF ACTION video, which will be featured on unitedwaynashville.org and emailed to thousands of United Way partners across the city.
The winner will also win a prize package from WSM-fm valued at over $150. All proceeds from the contest and performance go to purchase school supplies for at-risk kids in Nashville.
Songs will be accepted until June 10. Details on the contest at www.unitedwaynashville.org/songcontest
Sony/ATV Promotes Berschback, Inks Kristen Kelly
/by FreemanDuff Berschback
Sony/ATV has promoted Duff Berschback to Sr. VP, Legal Affairs and Business Development, Nashville.
Most recently Sony/ATV’s VP, Business Affairs, Berschback will continue his responsibilities for all aspects of business and legal affairs in the Nashville office, including signings, catalog acquisitions, joint ventures, and litigation. His new role will including developing new business models, strategic relationships and growth initiatives.
“Duff has proven himself to be an invaluable asset to our team,” says Sony/ATV Nashville President/CEO Troy Tomlinson. “His new role will help us to achieve our aggressive growth plans for the future.”
Berschback joined Sony/ATV in 2007 as Sr. Dir., Business Affairs. Prior to that he worked for a private law practice representing writers, artists, managers and more.
Sony/ATV has also announced the signing of Kristen Kelly to an exclusive publishing deal. The Texas artist also recently inked a record deal with RCA and is working on music with producers Paul Overstreet and Tony Brown. She is one of the first clients to join John Grady’s new Crush Nashville roster.
(L-R): Front: Stephanie Cox, Kristen Kelly, Paul Overstreet; Back: Troy Tomlinson, John Grady, Ben Strain, Jordan S. Keller
CMT Awards Crank Star Power; Sugarland Helps Heartland
/by FreemanKid Rock will reprise his host role, and the evening will feature performances by Big & Rich, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Toby Keith and the Incognito Banditos, and Zac Brown Band. Tickets are sold out but check CMT’s Twitter for information on opportunities to win seats. The show airs live on CMT June 8 at 7 pm CT.
Post Holiday Highlights
/by adminColleen Taylor
>>>Colleen Taylor has joined Big Machine Label Group as Administrative Assistant. A connecticut native and recent Belmont University grad., Taylor interned with the label before gaining this full time position.
(L-R) Clarence Spalding and Gillie Crowder (SOURCE member/Live Nation) Photo: Denisse Fussell
>>>Spalding Entertainment’s Clarence Spalding shared information about artist management with SOURCE—an organization of women executives in Nashville’s Music Industry on May 24. Spalding roster currently includes Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Terri Clark, and Ashley Monroe.
>>>In preparation for the new exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, which opens at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on August 11, 2011, Museum Curatorial Director Mick Buck and VP Museum Services Carolyn Tate met with three of Atkins’ CGPs: Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles and Steve Wariner. CGP – “certified guitar player” – was the honorary degree created by Atkins and bestowed upon only a handful of legatees.
(L-R) Mick Buck, Steve Wariner, John Knowles, Tommy Emmanuel and Carolyn Tate. Photo: Donn Jones
Jaron Lowenstein
>>>For Memorial Day Weekend, Jaron Lowenstein (Jaron and The Long Road To Love) asked his fans to post pictures of themselves or family members who are or were in the armed forces so that he could see faces rather than just use the faceless term “men and women of the armed forces.” His Facebook wall exploded into a moving tribute to these soldiers and their families. Also, check out Jaron’s YouTube channel which has a duet with Big Kenny called, “Beautiful Lies.”
Artist Visits: Photo Spread
/by Sherod RobertsonZac Brown Band shoot their latest music video for “Knee Deep” in Careyes, Mexico. Zac and family (wife Shelly and their four daughters) stayed the weekend to enjoy the local cuisine, drinks and sunshine.
Zac Brown chilling in the pool at a resort in Careyes, Mexico. Photo: Amanda Edwards/PictureGroup
• • • •
Brad Paisley was a special guest recently on ABC’s Good Morning America in support of his newly released album This Is Country Music. After an interview with GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts, Paisley along with supergroup Alabama, performed their No. 1 Billboard hit, “Old Alabama.” Co-written by Paisley, Chris DuBois, Dave Turnbull, and Randy Owen, this marks Paisley’s 19th No. 1.
(L-R): Brianna Golodryga, GMA Weekend Anchor; Jeff Cook, Alabama; Robin Roberts, GMA co-anchor; Paisley, George Stephanopoulos, GMA co-anchor; Randy Owen, Alabama; Lara Spencer, GMA lifestyle anchor; Teddy Gentry, Alabama. Photo: Ben Enos
• • • •
Columbia Nashville artist Bradley Gaskin performed his debut single “Mr. Bartender” on a recent visit to the Crook & Chase Show.
(L-R): Lorianne Crook; Gaskin and Charlie Chase.